Harmon County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, in the southwestern corner of the state along the Texas border. It had a population of 2,488 at the 2020 census and covers 539 square miles (1,400 km2), centred near 34°44′N 99°50′W.
Hollis is the county seat, and its postal code is 73550. The county has one city, one town, and a handful of unincorporated communities; it operates on Central Time and has no civil townships. Harmon County has lost population in every census since 1930, dropping from 13,834 residents that year to 2,488 in 2020 — an 82.1% decline, the steepest of any Oklahoma county.
Towns & Villages in Harmon County
Harmon County has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, and several small unincorporated communities. Hollis, the seat, holds roughly nine in ten county residents.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollis | City · seat | 2,179 | 73550 |
| Gould | Town | 178 | 73544 |
| Vinson | Unincorp. | 33 | 73571 |
| Arnett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McQueen | Unincorp. | — | — |
Several names on older lists of this county — Carl, Louis, Madge, McKnight, Ron, Sandy, and Shrewder — could not be independently confirmed as current settlements and are omitted here; some may be historic post office names or rural landmarks rather than active communities.
ZIP Codes
- 73550 — Hollis (post office town; also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 73544 — Gould
- 73571 — Vinson
Arnett and McQueen have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the Hollis or Gould post offices depending on location.
Geography
Harmon County sits on the rolling plains of southwestern Oklahoma, part of the Red River basin. The North Fork of the Red River crosses the county, and the terrain is largely flat to gently rolling farmland with sandy soils. Beckham County lies to the north, Greer County to the northeast, and Jackson County to the southeast. Across the Red River to the south is Hardeman County, Texas; Childress County, Texas lies to the west, and Collingsworth County, Texas to the northwest.
Demographics
Harmon County had 2,488 residents at the 2020 census. Hollis is by far the largest community, followed by Gould. The county’s median household income runs well below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting its small, aging, agriculture-dependent population base. Population density is roughly 4.6 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the local economy, with cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum as the principal crops on the county’s flat farmland. Harmon County Hospital and the Hollis school system are among the largest local employers. Cattle ranching also remains an important part of the rural economy.
History
Harmon County was created on June 2, 1909, following a May 1909 election, carved out of the western part of Greer County. It was named for Judson Harmon, who was serving as Governor of Ohio at the time. Like much of western Oklahoma, the county was hit hard by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and its population has declined in every census since, never recovering its early-20th-century peak.
Getting There
U.S. Route 62 runs through Hollis, connecting the county to Altus and Lawton to the east.
- Altus — 30 miles east
- Lawton — 90 miles east
- Wichita Falls, Texas — 75 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Harmon County, Oklahoma?
It is in the southwestern corner of the state, on the Texas border along the Red River.
What is the population of Harmon County?
2,488 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Harmon County?
539 square miles (1,400 km2).
What is the county seat of Harmon County?
Hollis is the county seat.
How many towns are in Harmon County?
One city (Hollis) and one town (Gould), plus a few unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Harmon County?
73550 (Hollis), 73544 (Gould), and 73571 (Vinson).
Why has Harmon County lost so much population?
It has declined in every census since 1930, a combination of the Dust Bowl, farm mechanization, and rural-to-urban migration common across the southern Plains.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.